Köln and Mainz couldn't be separated in the clash of two teams struggling, Köln struggle at home and they've only won one game at home in the Bundesliga. Mainz are struggling home and away, going into the game they haven't won in seven, which all started when their unbeaten start came to an end against Wolfsburg. Köln would've fancied themselves before the game after defeating Schalke on the weekend, Mainz managed to draw 1-1 with bottom side Stuttgart on Saturday.
In the 8th minute Köln thought they'd grabbed an early opener, Matthias Lehmann whipped in a lovely costless-kick from the left and Dominik Maroh was there to direct the ball past Loris Karius and in, unfortunately the goal was ruled for offside and it was a matter of a few centimetres.
Mainz had a great chance to take the lead when a ball from Júnior Díaz found Sami Allagui in the area, his header however went straight into the arms of Timo Horn.
There wasn't a bagful of goal action and chances but there were some great battles going on throughout the pitch, especially in midfield and the defences were shining as they restricted chances.
Almost straight away in the second half there was trouble, Kevin Vogt made a foul and tempers were quickly raised and a lot of players were involved, Vogt and Johannes Geis found themselves in Mr Meyer's book.
Like the first there wasn't much goal action, however that changed towards the end of the game when Köln pushed for a winner. With under twenty minute remaining Yannick Gerhadt fired wide from a long range effort, then moments later Anthony Ujah had a great chance which he also put wide. Those two missed chances were almost punished by Mainz and Shinji Okazaki, after some great work Mainz's main man fired against the crossbar as the woodwork came to Köln's rescue.
The best save and effort of the game came in the 83rd minute Lehmann tried his luck from range and the fantastic attempt brought out an incredible save by Karius, the Mainz keeper saw it late and did very well to palm the shot away from his goal.
Köln caused an upset on the weekend and on Saturday they'll hope they'll have the same luck as they travel to high-flying Wolfsburg who are in 2nd place. As for Mainz they have the task of stopping the frightening Bayern Munich, who haven't lost in twenty Bundesliga games, their last loss in the league was back in April against Dortmund.